Vatican denies traditional group permission to pray in St. Peter's Basilica

The Vatican Secretariat of State has barred participants of the 15th International Summorum Pontificum Pilgrimage from entering St. Peter's Basilica for a procession to pray at the tomb of the Apostle. Christian Marquant, president of the association Paix Liturgique, stated that a letter from the Secretariat of State informed organizers that the procession was not allowed to enter the basilica.

Organizers had previously been told earlier this year that they could not celebrate a Mass using the 1962 Missal in St. Peter's Basilica. While the Basilica had initially indicated the group could enter for a brief Eucharistic blessing, the final decision prohibited the procession. Approximately 1,500 pilgrims were affected by the refusal of both the procession and the request for a Pontifical Mass.

The pilgrimage, held in Rome from October 23 to 25, 2026, includes priests, religious, and lay faithful from various countries. Due to the restrictions at St. Peter's, the Mass was scheduled to be celebrated at the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. Peter Kwasniewski, a Catholic writer and speaker, criticized the Vatican's decisions, noting that the group was also informed that the Mass at Saint Mary Major could only last one hour.